I have more hope for the ladies- men are subject to years of mandatory military service (for obvious reasons) in their prime, which kills much a chance for talented hopefuls to fully develop their talents. With a possible signalling of a breakthough in relations with the North coming from their young leader (and that is my last political comment on this), hopefully that will in time help send men from the barracks to the ice rink, lol.

Actually top level athletes who win certain types of medals at certain types of events (as specified by the rules and regulations governing compulsory military service) can be exempt from the mandatory military service. Hak Seon Yang who won OGM in London for gymnastics, for example, does not have to serve.

Of course the problem is whether or not South Korean male skater can be good enough to meet the minimum international result to skip the military service.

Actually top level athletes who win certain types of medals at certain types of events (as specified by the rules and regulations governing compulsory military service) can be exempt from the mandatory military service. Hak Seon Yang who won OGM in London for gymnastics, for example, does not have to serve.

Of course the problem is whether or not South Korean male skater can be good enough to meet the minimum international result to skip the military service.

Can't they postpone their military service though? Then again, they'd have to have a good enough reason to ...

Can't they postpone their military service though? Then again, they'd have to have a good enough reason to ...

Yes they can. That is the reason why many Korean male athletes go to graduate school. This would let them postpone the military service until their late 20's. So I don't think the military service would be trouble for Korean figure skaters since there aren't many male skater's at their 30's in competitive skating.